BRITISH COLUMBIA CRUISES:  COASTAL WILDERNESS CRUISE

British Columbia and the San Juan Islands

CRUCWBCCWC - 8 days / 7 nights

Departure Dates: 
2005 - April 9, 16, 23, 30 - September 17, 24 - October 1, 8, 22

Captain George Vancouver was one of the first European mariners to record his visit to the legend-shrouded wilderness shorelines of what are now British Columbia and Washington State. As he sailed this coast in 1791, he left his mark on the area for all time, naming Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, Vancouver Island, Mount Rainier and many other places. As we retrace Captain Vancouver's historic voyage, you'll see wilderness fjords and islands that have remained much the same since Vancouver's visit, and navigate scenic, narrow passageways en route to and from the quaint ports and great cities scattered throughout these waters. The Spirit of Columbia will take you in comfort, offering you the best views, and pausing along the way to enjoy a pod of whales, a spectacular sunset, or whatever nature has in store.

The Ship: Cruise West's 78-guest Spirit of Columbia is a cozy vessel perfectly suited to exploring the wilderness waterways of the Northwest. With her shallow draft and stately pace, you won't miss a thing as you cruise the back channels, bays and wilderness islands. She's even equipped for bow landings to take you ashore on remote beaches. Her range of cabin categories is one of the widest in our fleet, giving you a choice of accommodations from economy to deluxe. All staterooms offer private facilities and air conditioning.

Make Your Own Discoveries - In just one week this all-inclusive cruise shows you yachters’ favorites like Princess Louisa Inlet and British Columbia’s charming Gulf Islands. You’ll visit distinctive ports of call hidden in the maze of islands, like turn-of-the-century Rosario Resort on Orcas Island, and Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Then from a privileged base on board your cruise vessel tucked right into the inner harbor, explore the bustling streets and historic attractions of Victoria and Vancouver, each a magnet for travelers from around the globe.

Cruising Aboard the Spirit of Columbia - Your British Columbia cruise features the 78-guest Spirit of Columbia. With her shallow draft and stately pace of cruising, you often linger among the back channels, bays and wilderness islands, or take time to watch when a pod of orcas is feeding in the waters nearby. Your ship can also tie up in tiny marinas completely inaccessible to large cruise vessels. The Spirit of Columbia features the widest range of cabins in Cruise West’s fleet, from economical lower deck cabins to seven Deluxe cabins on upper decks, complete with picture windows, a refrigerator, and a TV monitor/VCR.

Choose Your Season – Spring or Fall - In April, fresh spring greenery and lush rhododendrons bloom in the lovely gardens of Vancouver and Victoria. A highlight in Washington’s Skagit Valley near La Conner is the breathtaking sight of hundreds of acres of blooming tulips, in every color of the rainbow. Autumn in the Pacific Northwest frequently offers the gentle beauty of Indian summer, when the sun shines on the sparkling waters, the air is crisp and clean, and fall foliage mingles with the evergreens along the island shores. 

Highlights

Spirit of Columbia Information     -    British Columbia Information

Daily Itinerary

Day 1     Sail From Seattle
Arrive in Seattle and transfer from the Hospitality Suite to the Spirit of Columbia. Onceyou have settled in your comfortable stateroom, step out on deck as you cruise through the Ballard Locks to Elliott Bay to view Seattle's skyline. D

Day 2     La Conner
An Old Northwest feel pervades today's port of call in Washington State’s Puget Sound. La Conner is an artists’ colony on the water's edge of the lush Skagit Valley, whose downtown streets abound in galleries, antique shops and craft stores. A sightseeing tour features the lovely rural landscape surrounding the town. In the springtime, hundreds of acres of blooming tulips in the bulb farms will highlight your trip. BLD

Day 3     Vancouver, Cruise Indian Arm
The Spirit of Columbia cruises under the Lion's Gate Bridge in the morning to dock at Vancouver's Inner Harbour, in the shadow of the city's gleaming glass towers. An included tour highlights Stanley Park, a lovely old-growth forest that boasts an impressive collection of totem poles, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. Cruise east through Burrard Inlet, then north into Indian Arm, a spectacular mountain-ringed 18-mile-long fjord. Later, cruise west past Vancouver's skyline as you head northwest into the Strait of Georgia. BLD

Day 4     Princess Louisa Inlet
Today's exploration will be wilderness cruising at its best, in waters usually accessible only by private yachtsmen. Princess Louisa Inlet, streaming with waterfalls and encircled by cliffs, is 1,000 feet dep, 5 miles long, and no more than 1/2 mile wide at its broadest point. You will spend hours cruising slowly past the walls of the fjord and Chatterbox Falls near the head of the fjord. After leaving Princess Louisa Inlet, you will have time for Captain's Choice Cruising, exploring wildlife and beautiful spots. BLD

Day 5     Nanaimo
Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, is surrounded by astonishing views. A cannon booms from the Bastion, an 1853 Hudson's Bay Company fort. Traditionally-dressed constables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – the famed Red Coated Mounties – welcome you into port on the pier. An included walking tour will show you the Cameron Island Promenade, the Old City Quarter, and the Nanaimo District Museum. BLD

Day 6     Butchart Gardens and Victoria
Start your day with an included visit to the famous Butchart Gardens where you’ll have plenty of time to walk the lovely pathways that thread around this quarry turned world-class showplace. Once in Victoria you may choose to experience such civilized amenities as High Tea at the very-British Empress Hotel, or stout and a game of darts at an English pub. The shopping at this one-time marketplace of the British Empire is particularly diverse and inviting. The Spirit of Columbia is docked within convenient walking distance of all the major downtown attractions. BLD

Day 7     San Juan Islands
A port of call at Friday Harbor includes the Whale Museum. An optional island excursion takes you to the 19th century English campsite of the Pig War and the turn-of-thecentury marine resort at Roche Harbor. You will visit Rosario Resort on neighboring Orcas Island, the one-time country estate of a noted Seattle shipbuilder, and enjoy a special organ recital in the lavish library of the original mansion. BLD

Day 8     Arrive In Seattle
Transfer from the Spirit of Columbia to the airport. B

INCLUDED:

Not Included:

INSURANCE NOTE: Cancellation policies are strictly enforced! We highly recommend to protect your travel investment should you need to cancel your trip. We have designed an exclusive insurance plan to provide broad protection!